Cox’s bazar: Nearly 88 percent of the funds under the 2026 Joint Response Plan (JRP) for the Rohingya humanitarian response is controlled by UN agencies, while local NGOs receive a mere 2.5 percent of the funding allocated for refugee camps. This was revealed at a press conference on Tuesday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the findings were presented at an event titled ‘Where Is the Funding for the Rohingya Response Going?’ organized by the Cox’s Bazar CSO-NGO Forum (CCNF) and COAST Foundation at the Cox’s Bazar Press Club. Speakers at the event advocated for increased involvement of local organizations in the Rohingya humanitarian response, emphasizing the need for their meaningful participation in decision-making and implementation processes.
Md Shahinur Islam of COAST Foundation shared that USD 710.5 million is necessary to assist 1.56 million people under the 2026 JRP. Of this, 87.96 percent is held by UN agencies, 7.78 percent by international NGOs, and 4.26 percent by national NGOs, while local NGOs remain non-recipients as appealing partners in the JRP, as per the presentation.
Within the funding designated for the Rohingya camps, 63.6 percent is directed to international NGOs, 33.9 percent to national NGOs, and only 2.5 percent to local NGOs. The presentation also highlighted that of USD 150 million in funding from the United States, 92 percent was allocated to UN agencies and 8 percent to international NGOs.
Speakers highlighted that funding is predominantly channelled through UN agencies and international NGOs, whose operational costs are considerably high. Anjuman Ara Begum of Rokeya Foundation urged for the substantial engagement of local NGOs in humanitarian efforts, calling for at least 25 percent of humanitarian funding to be directly allocated to them.
Helal Uddin, executive director of local NGO Agrajatra, pointed out that local organizations have minimal access under the current JRP and Pooled Fund mechanism, demanding their inclusion as appealing partners in the JRP for direct fund access. Nurul Islam Helali, president of Journalist Association Cox’s Bazar, emphasized that funding to local NGOs is a right, not charity.
Concerns were also raised about the impact of the Rohingya crisis on the host community and environment. Nurul Kabir, a member of Rajapalong Union Parishad, mentioned that local residents in camp areas receive no assistance, while nearby Rohingya benefit from various support forms. Robiul Alam, president of the Ukhiya Rights Implementation Committee, highlighted the necessity for environmental protection, surface water preservation, and agricultural land restoration.
Helal Uddin added that waste from the camps is damaging local farmland and called for a permanent resolution. Nasir Uddin stated that there has been no progress in repatriation, leading to growing frustration and uncertainty among the host community. He also noted the significant impact on the education sector in Cox’s Bazar, urging long-term investment in education and skills development for the local population.
CCNF Member Secretary Zahangir Alam stressed the importance of a sustainable solution for peaceful coexistence. Jafor Alam, general secretary of the Ukhiya Imam Somity, called for greater involvement of ASEAN, China, and other regional and international organizations in resolving the crisis. Momtaz Uddin Bahari, general secretary of the Cox’s Bazar Press Club, underscored the need for an effective and sustainable solution to the Rohingya crisis.
The event, moderated by Zahangir Alam, was attended by members of CCNF and journalists from print and electronic media. The Rohingya crisis has persisted into its tenth year since the influx began in 2017, with nearly 1.2 million Rohingya refugees currently residing in Cox’s Bazar, according to the organizers.